International Ops 2019
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North Korean airspace: a year later – is it still safe for international operators?
If you’re looking for an update on “Is North Korea Safe to Overfly“, this is it. Answer: Yes. Here’s why, in the bedtime story version: Once upon a time, there was a…
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Are ops to Hong Kong getting easier?
Since August 2018, Hong Kong Airport has been providing six daily designated slots to GA/BA between 1600-2059Z (0000-0500 local time), and it now looks like this policy has been extended through to…
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Sudan airspace reopens
Sudan airspace reopened at 1200Z on Apr 12, having been closed for 24hrs following a military coup. So the HSSS FIR is now once again open for overflights. As for flights to…
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Tripoli airport hit by airstrikes as civil war erupts in Libya
Libya has been plunged into civil war again, with militia from the East mounting a campaign to seize control of Tripoli, and threatening to shoot down aircraft operating in western Libya. Risk…
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No end in sight for Pakistan airspace restrictions
Multiple news outlets are reporting that Pakistan has reopened its airspace, but that’s not accurate. The restrictions implemented a month ago remain in place, effective through to Apr 24 at the earliest.…
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Algeria lifts ban on GA/BA flights
Amid ongoing anti-government protests, authorities published a Notam on Apr 2 banning all GA/BA flights from operating at airports across the country. But following the resignation of Algeria’s President Bouteflika, this ban…
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Malaysia and Singapore agree truce over Seletar airspace closure
Update Apr 6: The Malaysian authorities have now lifted the airspace closure north of Seletar again, and in return Singapore will abandon plans for ILS at the airport – and will now…
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Fiji ATC operations return to normal
Update Apr 2: ATC operations have returned to normal across Fiji, following last week’s strike by air traffic controllers. On Fri Mar 29, an Arbitration Court ordered they return to work, although…
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2019 North Atlantic changes
There are four ICAO NAT Ops Bulletins due to go into effect on March 28th, 2019. The PBCS tracks will be expanded, real-time Space-Based ADS-B surveillance and reduced separation standards will be…
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Venezuela: do not travel
Amid an escalating crisis in Venezuela, on Mar 11, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced via Twitter that the U.S. Embassy in Caracas will be withdrawing all of its remaining diplomatic…
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Stuck in Iran for over 2 months
On Feb 23, the Norwegian B737 which had been stuck in Iran for two months after an in-flight diversion finally departed OISS/Shiraz, and landed back at Stockholm’s ESSA/Arlanda airport. The brand new Norwegian Boeing…
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New NAT Contingency Procedures for 2019
Starting 28th March 2019, there will be some changes to the contingency and weather deviation procedures on the NAT. ICAO has published a new NAT Ops Bulletin with all the details. Before, there…
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Indonesia is intercepting aircraft – outside their airspace
If you are operating in the Singapore FIR, consider this carefully: you may be overflying Indonesia without knowing it. Indonesia will know though, and they want you to have an overflight permit. You…
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Don’t alpaca your bags for Lima – tech stops forbidden!
For 10 years SPJC/Lima’s Jorge Chavez airport has been desperately waiting for a promised US$1.5bn expansion. With the rapid growth in the airline industry in Peru over the past few years, it…
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Istanbul Mega-Airport opening soon – but not for everyone
In Short: The switch from LTBA/Istanbul Ataturk to LTFM/Istanbul New Airport has effectively been postponed until sometime in early March 2019 – although no official date has been given yet. LTFM “officially” opened on…
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First look at NAT changes for 2019
Starting 28th March 2019, a new trial will be implemented on the NAT called ASEPS (Advanced Surveillance Enhanced Procedural Separation) using ADS-B in the Shanwick, Gander and Santa Maria FIRs. Compliant aircraft…
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Why, How and Where should you SLOP?
In Short: Strategic Lateral Offset Procedures (SLOP) costs nothing and increases flight safety. If the airspace permits it, you should be “randomly” offsetting, especially across the North Atlantic. Left is for losers…
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The Impact of Space-Based ADS-B on International Operations
I can distinctly remember the build up to and roll out of GPS navigations systems. Like so many of us, I was excited to see this new technology integrated into my cockpit.…
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Can you track your aircraft every 15 minutes?
New ICAO requirements on aircraft tracking came into force on Nov 8. Large aircraft (over MTOW 45,500kg and with more than 19 seats) must now track their position every 15 minutes –…
